Abstract: A vehicle power-supply control device has a battery charger that converts an externally-supplied AC voltage into a DC voltage used to charge a vehicle high-voltage battery, a low-voltage power generator that converts the DC voltage output from the battery charger into a DC voltage used to drive a vehicle auxiliary machine, and a controller that controls the battery charger and the low-voltage power generator. The battery charger includes a power factor correction circuit that corrects a power factor of the AC voltage and a first DC/DC converter that generates a predetermined DC voltage based on an output of the power factor correction circuit. The low-voltage power generator includes a second DC/DC converter that steps down the DC voltage output from the battery charger and a synchronous rectifier that rectifies an output of the second DC/DC converter in synchronization with a switching operation of the second DC/DC converter.

Abstract: Capacitive charge re-distribution is used to create any desired number of secondary reference voltages from a primary reference voltage. The capacitive charge re-distribution allows reduced current consumption compared to conventional approaches to generating additional reference voltages. The secondary reference voltage or voltages may be greater than or less than the original reference voltage.

Abstract: A battery system is configured by connecting a plurality of battery modules in series, and each of the plurality of battery modules is configured by stacking a plurality of unit batteries. A connecting terminal through which electricity is obtained is provided between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of at least one of the plurality of battery modules.

Abstract: The frequency generated by a high-frequency high-voltage generator is set to a higher one of the frequencies of two coupled modes which take place when a resonance circuit of a power transmission device and that of a power reception device are coupled to each other. For this reason, charge generated on an active electrode of the power transmission device and that generated on an active electrode of the power reception device have the same polarity, while an electric potential of a passive electrode of the power transmission device and that of a passive electrode of the power reception device have the same polarity. When the passive electrode of the power transmission device is connected to the ground, the electric potential of the passive electrode is zero V. Therefore, the electric potential of the passive electrode of the power reception device is substantially zero V.

Abstract: A power system is disclosed including a plurality of power circuits, each power circuit providing an independent power output and including a high-side driver coupled to a high-side switch and a low-side drive coupled to a low-side switch, and control circuitry coupled to each of the power circuits. The control circuitry is operable to detect a present state of each high-side and low-side switch, and prevent two or more of the high-side switches from substantially concurrently switching from a first state to a second state, or two or more of the high-side switches and one or more of the low-side switches from substantially concurrently switching from a third state to a fourth state, or two or more of the low-side switches from substantially concurrently switching from the third state to the fourth state.

Abstract: During an intermittent operation of the fuel cell, a demanded FC voltage calculation portion calculates a predetermined voltage that is below a heightened potential avoidance threshold voltage as a demanded FC voltage, and outputs the voltage to a converter. When during the intermittent operation of the fuel cell, a deviation obtained by subtracting a generated power of the fuel cell from a system's allowable power that is allowable in the fuel cell system becomes less than or equal to a value 0, the demanded FC voltage correction portion corrects a command value provided for the converter so that the deviation becomes equal to the value 0.

Abstract: A power supply device includes: a comparator that compares an error voltage and a slope voltage to generate a comparison signal; a PWM pulse generation portion that generates a PWM pulse based on a clock signal and the comparison signal; an on-time fixed pulse generation portion that uses the comparison signal as a trigger to generate an on-time fixed pulse where an on-time and an on-time number are constant; a selector that selects any one of the PWM pulse and the on-time fixed pulse; and a selector control portion that generates a selector control signal such that any one of the PWM pulse and the on-time fixed pulse is selected according to whether or not the comparison signal is kept at the same logic level over a predetermined mask period.

Abstract: A contactless connector requires no physical contact. A terminated transmitting transmission line on a first board is parallel to a dual-terminated receiving transmission line on a second board. The boards are placed face-to-face with a small air gap in-between. A driver drives a driven pulse onto a first end of the transmitting transmission line. The driven pulse capacitively induces a positive induced pulse on the first end of the receiving transmission line. As the driven pulse travels from the first end to the second end of the transmitting transmission line, energy is transferred to the induced pulse, which travels down the receiving transmission line. Inductive coupling becomes stronger than capacitive as the length increases, so that at the second end, the induced pulse is negative and then swings positive. A Schmitt trigger receiver on the second end of the receiving transmission line detects the signal.

Abstract: A power transmitter (101) transfers power to a power receiver (105) using a wireless inductive power signal. The power transmitter (101) comprises an inductor (103) for providing the power signal and a power signal generator (207) for driving the inductor (103) to provide the power signal. The power receiver (105) comprises an inductor (107) for receiving the power signal and a transmitter (305) which transmits data messages to the power transmitter (101). The data are communicated by load modulation of the power signal in repeating load modulation intervals which are separated by intervening time intervals. The power transmitter (101) transmits data to the power receiver (105) by modulating the power signal with a message during the intervening time intervals and the power receiver demodulates the data in these time intervals.

Abstract: A device for connecting an energy-converting terminal to an electric power supply network and for exchanging data via the power supply network, a network connection for connecting to the power supply network, a communications unit for receiving and sending data over the power supply network, a logic unit for controlling the data exchange and for controlling or regulating the power of the energy-converting terminal, sensors and an associated signal processing unit for monitoring the energy-converting terminal, as well as a power section for controlling the energy flow to the energy-converting terminal are provided. The network connection, the communications unit, the logic unit, a sensor unit having sensors and the signal processing unit associated with the sensors and the power section are combined in an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide for fully-integrated, low-latency power reduction in multi-sensor systems. In certain embodiments, power consumption is minimized by modulating power and mode of operation of gyroscopes, magnetometers, and accelerometers under certain conditions. Certain embodiments provide for reduction of power consumption by the use of emulated gyroscope data.

Abstract: A power system with a combination of active current sharing and droop current sharing is disclosed. The power system includes a system load and plural power supplies connected with each other and connected to the system load. The power supplies are configured to respectively output a load current to the system load, and each power supply includes an active current sharing circuit and a droop current sharing circuit. The active current sharing circuit is configured to enter an operation or shutdown mode depending on whether the load current is higher than a first current set point. The droop current sharing circuit is configured to enter an operation or shutdown mode depending on whether the load current is higher than a second current set point. Hence, each power supply can respectively output an equal share of the load current by an active current sharing technique and/or a droop current sharing technique.

Abstract: In distribution networks for safety sensors and devices, aspects of the invention provide routing individualized status signals in parallel to potential safety sensor locations in addition to serially routing safety signals to provide substantially increased protection. A shorting plug that electrically shorts together an individualized status signal to a voltage reference level at a safety sensor location, in addition to electrically shorting together the safety signals for electrical continuity, provides individualized status information for each potential safety sensor location in addition to the serial safety information provided by the safety signals. Another aspect of the invention provides a remote monitoring device coupled to one or more adapter ports, with each adapter port coupled to one or more safety sensors, wherein adapter ports are coupled via cabling with cable endings of the same type, thereby preventing circumvention of a safety sensor simply by coupling together adjacent cables.

Abstract: A control section generates a quasi-sine wave with a plurality of gradation voltages including power supply voltages from DC power supplies with different voltages and one or more potential differences between two of the power supply voltages. Specifically, the control section generates the quasi-sine wave by, in a time range where a sine wave voltage is at two gradation voltages, generating a PWM signal with one gradation voltage set at a low level and the other gradation voltage set at a high level. The timing for switching the PWM signal is determined using an intersection between a sine wave and a triangular wave in the time range where the sine wave voltage is at two gradation voltages, where the triangular wave is generated with one gradation voltage set at a low level and the other gradation voltage set at a high level.

Abstract: A vehicle proximity switch and method are provided having sensitivity control. The switch includes a proximity sensor, such as a capacitive sensor, installed in a vehicle and providing a sense activation field. Control circuitry processes the activation field to sense user activation of the switch by comparing the activation field to a threshold. The threshold is adjusted down when a substantially stable sensor signal is detected below the threshold for a minimum time period, and the threshold is adjusted up when a sensor signal greater than the threshold by a predetermined value is detected.

Abstract: Contactless power-feed equipment includes: a power-supply device that outputs an AC constant current having a predetermined oscillation frequency to a main induction line; a primary coil provided on the main induction line connected to the power-supply device; a secondary coil that forms an insulating transformer with the primary coil and is connected in parallel with the sub induction line, a resonance capacitor that is connected in parallel with the secondary coil and constitutes a parallel resonant circuit with the sub induction line, and a switch provided between the secondary coil and the parallel resonant circuit. In the parallel resonant circuit, the sub induction line and the resonance capacitor have constants such that the parallel resonant circuit has a resonance frequency equal to the oscillation frequency of the power-supply device.

Abstract: Switch assembly for changing the direction of current from a power source to an appliance comprising—at least four wirings, two of the wirings are connectable with the power source and the remaining wirings are connectable with the appliance,—all wirings are fixed on the surface of a substrate and none of the wirings are directly connected to each other,—a first button comprising a first conductive pattern on one surface of said button,—a second button comprising a second conductive pattern on one surface of said button,—the surfaces of the buttons on which the conductive patterns are arranged face the surface of said substrate where the wirings are arranged,—the buttons are fixed on the substrate—the conductive patterns on the buttons and said wirings on the surface of the substrate are arranged in such a manner and said buttons are placed on said substrate in such manner, that (i) said conductive patterns on the buttons are not in contact with said wirings in an unpressed state of the buttons, (ii) one butt

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a battery disconnect unit (BDU) and a cartridge. The BDU includes a first positive terminal, a first negative terminal, a second positive terminal, a second negative terminal, a first current path, a second current path, a first switch, and a second switch. The first current path is between the first positive terminal and the second positive terminal. The second current path is between the first negative terminal and the second negative terminal. The first switch is disposed in the first current path. The second switch is disposed in the second current path. The cartridge includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a current path between the first terminal and the second terminal. The first terminal is configured to connect to one of the terminals on the BDU.

Abstract: A decentralized load shedding device turns off a load in response to determining that an electric grid is approaching its maximum operating point. By turning off the load, demand on the electric grid is minimized thereby reducing the likelihood of blackouts. The device may be coupled to the load or may be incorporated into the load in one embodiment.

Abstract: A power distribution device includes a direct current power source DC/DC converter connected to a direct current power source, and an AC/DC converter connected to an alternating current power source. The direct current power source DC/DC converter and the AC/DC converter are accommodated in a single container from which a DC load supply line is led out.